Improvement in ear-coverings for hats and caps



R. Monsi. Ear-#Coverings for Hats and Caps.

N0.138,040. PatentedApril22,l873.

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BENJAMIN B. MORSE, OF GALESBUBG, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN EAR-COVERINGS FR HATS AND CAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,040, dated April22, 1873; application filed March 15, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN It. Mensa, of Galesburg, in the county ofKnox, in the State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Flaps orEar-Coverings for Hats or Caps; and do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe annexed drawing making a part of this specification, in which likeletters of reference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure lrepresents a front view of cap with one ear-flap up, the other down;Fig. 2, elevation of mechanism of the iiap; Fig. 3, end or sideelevation of ear-flap in erect position against the upper part of thecap. l

This invention consists in providing a cap or hat with hinged concaveflaps to cover and protect the ears, and which will remain in but twopositions-15. e., covering the ear or pressed back against the cap orhead.

One of the forms in which I construct the iiap I will now describe: Theflaps are made of a metallic or other rigid frame hinged to a plate ofmetal or other stiff base, which is fastened to the cap, &c., over theear. The frame of the iiap on each side consists of an elastic wire orspiral spring hinged or hooked to the base-plate at one end and to across-piece forming the extremity of the iiap, which piece is keptextended by straight steel springs extending from the cross-piece andhinged to the base-plate. The side springs h h are so set asto keep thecentral springs slightly curved, and also out of the line of thehinges'of the latter, by whichtwo devices the flaps will maintain buttwo positionsi. e., upright against the cap or pressed firmly againstand coverin g the ears entirely. The whole is covered with some warmmaterial, as usual.

In the drawing, A represents the cap; B, the base-plate of the flap C,which plate is sewed or otherwise fastened permanently or temporarily,as desired, to that part of the cap just above the ear of the wearer. Itis a stiff plate of metal or other rigid material pierced with smallholes to sew or fasten it to the cap, and is bent inward at its upperedge a short distance (about one-fourth of an inch) at a right angle;thence downward for a little more than the same distance in a parallelplane to that of the plate to form a sti' edge, m, both to strengthenthis upper edge of the plate and to remove the attaching points for thesprings q g from those of the springs h h to secure an inward pull forthe latter on the former springs. This upper corrugation b m is slightlycurved to conform to the surface of the cap, and to assist the springs hh in their tension upon the springs g gin bringing the iap up 7 ordown.7 A straight rigid wire is nearly as effective as the wires h t',and also used by me with advantage. C is the flap proper or ear-cover,which is covered with a warm material, and composed of one or twostraight steel springs, g g,hinged to a wire or similar pivot at theouter corner of the base-plate B, which springs keep the end piece k ofthe ap extended, and to which they are riveted or otherwise fastened.From the ends of this piecekan elastic or spiralw'ire, h h, is extendedon either side or edge of the flap, down to the inner bend or angle ofthe plate B, formed by the surfaces b m, to which edge the Wires areeach pivoted by a terminal hook passing through holes in this angle. Thewires h h are so adj usted as to keep the springs g g permanently bentin a slight curve to cause the flap to remain in but two settledpositions, viz., against the ear and against the side of the cap abovethe ear, and in no other or intermediate position. The springs h h maybe transposed with, g g, the other springs, but the concavity of theflap will be destroyed. The former springs h h may be substituted bystrong rubber strings or bands, but without improvement,as they will notbe sufficiently contractile for effect; and rigid wires in the place ofthem are equally effective in keeping the extending spring or springscurved.

The operation of this ear-flap is as follows: The extending springs g goperating against the contracting springs i t', being hinged at somedistance apart upon the plate B, act to gether to retain the iiap in buttwo places-z'. e., against the ear or erect against the cap above theear, out of the way when not required for use. Rigid wires, in place ofthe wires h t' h t', are equally effective.

l. An ear-flap4 for hats or caps, consisting of a springframe soattached to a base-plate that it shall remain in two positions, viz.,exprovementin flaps or ear-coverings for caps, tended over the ear orerect against the side hats, 85e., I have hereunto set my hand this ofhat or cap. 17th day of February, A. D. 1873.

2. The ear-Hap, consisting of the base-plate BENJAMIN R. MORSE. B,contractile springs h h, extending springs y g, and connecting-plate k,arranged and op- Witnesses: erating substantially as described. D.HENSHAW,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing irn- P. P. HEMSTREET.

